Machine for the knitting of elastic top stockings and method of knitting the same thereon



' Aug. 27, 1940. H, MCADAMS 2,213,145

MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING OF ELASTIC TOP STOCKINGS AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME THEREON 7 Original Filed Oct. 6, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

Hafr'1 M Adams Aug. 27, 1940. H. McADAMS 2,213,145

MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING OF ELASTIC TOP STOCKINGS AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME THEREON Original Filed Oct. 6, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 INVENTOR ,3 HaIlT'F'H M AdEJTLS Aug. 27, 1940. H MCADAMS 2,213,145

MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING OF ELASTIC TOP STOCKINGS AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME THEREON Original Filed Oct. 6, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Hard- M AEI am 5 7, 1940- H. M ADAMS 2,213,145

MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING 0F ELASTIC TOP STOCKINGS AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME THEREON Original Filed Oct. 6, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR' H ar'rw M Adams WE Q ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1940. H MCADAMS 2,213,145 MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING 0F ELASTIC TOP STOCXINGS' AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME THEREON Original Filed Oct. 6, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Hal PH M,Adams ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1940. H, MQADAMS 2,213,145

MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING OF ELASTIC TOP STOCKINGS AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME THEREON Original Filed Oct. 6, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.14. -12- Jed/an FIG. 13.

INVENTOR Har'rw M Adams ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1940.

MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING OF ELASTIC TOP STOCKINGS H. MCADAMS 2,213,145

AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME THEREON [me eel 1 twinge/ad *0 he fap OriginalFiled Oct. 6, 193B 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 u er 6475 INVENTOR Harm Adams ATTORNEY?! Patented Aug. 27, 1940 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR THE KNITTING OF ELASTIC TOP STOCKINGS AND METHOD OF KNIT- TING THE SAME THEREON Harry McAdams, Reading, Pa., assignor to The Nolde and Horst Company, Reading, Pa., a corporation Original application October 6, 1938, Serial No. 233,636. Divided and this application March 6,

1939, Serial No. 260,163

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for the knitting of elastic top stockings, and to methods vof knitting such stockings thereon.

The present application is a division out of my co-pending application Serial No. 233,636, filed Oct. 6, 1938.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional .view taken through a knitting machine whereon the elastic tops for the improved stocking are continuously knitted in string-work; the machine being generally of the type manufactured by the Wildman Manufacturing Company and conforming in many respects to the mechanismsuch as shown in U. S. Patents 805,612; 1,012,966, and 1,253,563.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the knitting machine above the dial, showing more particularly the different yarn feeds and the pattern controlled mechanism for operating the dial and cylinder needle actuating cams- Figure 3 is a developed view of the cylinder needle set-up.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the dial cap, showing more particularly the cam arrangement thereon.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are different views showing an elastic yarn controlling member which cooperates during the knitting of the top of the stocking in properly positioning the elastic yarn with respect to the cylinder and dial needles so that the yarn will be properly laid in with respect to the knitted stitches.

Figure 8 is a plan view, partly in section, showing means for operating various feed finger and yarn controlling elements of the machine.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken subsantially on the line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing pattern controlled means for operating various yarn feed finger and yarn controlling devices.

Figure 11 is an elevation'al View, partly broken away, of the mechanism shown in Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a side View of the improved stocking, the top of which is knitted on the improved machine shown in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the fabric knitted. upon the machine shown in Figures 1 to 11; showing the tops connected together in stringwork.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line l4l4 thru one side of the top shown in Figure 12.

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the different knitted portions of the top.

Figure 16 is a side view, showing the manner in which the stocking fits upon the leg of a wearer.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of a machine for knitting the improved top and wherein is shown the improved stocking and the fabric of the top thereof, the letter A may generally designate the improved machine, which as above mentioned, is preferably of the Wildman type, and whereon is knitted the stringwork fabric shown at B in Figure 13 of the drawings, consisting of a plurality of connected tops C. The improved stocking D shown in Figure 12 is formed by the usual method of transferring a top 6 to the needles of a knitting machine and thereafter knitting the leg portion and foot portion.

Referring to the machine A (Figure 1), the same includes a frame or bed 20 having a stationary cylinder 2| secured thereto wherein a set of needles 23 are positioned in the usual manner. A cylinder cam ring 24 is rotatably supported on the bed of the machine and has a bevel gear 25 keyed therewith; the latter being rotatably driven in a manner well known in this art. A suitable yoke 26 mounted on the frame 20 supports a fixed ring 21 on the top thereof, wherein is rotatably supported a dial supporting member 28. This rotatable member supports a dial post 29. It is stationary and has a dial bed '33 secured therewith over the cylinder, wherein a set of dial needles 34 are slidably positioned in the usual manner. A dial cam carrier or cap 35 is rotatably sup-ported above the dial cap and connected by means of a link and post mechanism 36 with the cylinder cam ring 24, for rotation therewith. Above the rotary member 28 a bobbin stand 40 is supported, whereon suitable yarn bobbins are provided, the yarns of which extend through a passageway in the rotatable member 28 to the various yarn fingers of the several yarn feeds provided on the machine, as will be subsequently described.

The improved machine is equipped withtwo yarn feed stations. At one of these stations,

which we will suitably designate as E, there are provided two feed fingers 35 and 36*, adapted to feed two inelastic yarns and one elastic yarn to the needles of the knitting machine; the feed finger 45 feeding an inelastic yarn 36 to the needles and the feed finger 1-6 being equipped with two feed openings, the forward one of which feeds a light inelastic yarn 49 to the needles and the rear opening of which feed finger 45 feeds an elastic yarn 50 to the same needles which receive the light inelastic yarn 39.

At the second feed, generally designated at F in Figure 2 of the drawings, there are provided two feed fingers 5| and 52 adapted to feed elastic and inelastic yarns respectively to the needles of the machine; the finger 5| controlling the feed of an elastic yarn 53 to the needles of the machine, and the finger 52 controlling the feed of an inelastic yarn 55 to the needles.

The feed fingers 95, 46 5| and 52 are actuated in the manner usual to the Wildman topping machine. Thus, at feed E thefingers 45 and 46* are pivotally supported upon a bracket 60 and are individually actuated through suitable bevel gearing 6| and a star wheel 62. The mechanism associated with this feed also operates a binder and cutter 63 in the usual manner, well known to those skilled in the art, and which need not be explained in the specification.

At the feed F the fingers 5| and 52 are likewise supported upon a standard 55 and actuated through bevel gearing 66 and a star wheel 61. This feed also has a binder and cutter 68 which is actuated through turning of the shaft supporting one of the bevel gears of the feed.

The star wheel 62 which controls the feed fingers and binding and cutting mechanism of the feed E is actuated off a pattern controlled member H, shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and detailed in Figures 8, 9 and 11 of the drawings, and wheel 67 is actuated oif of a device 12 shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and also in perspective in Figure 10 of the drawings. These devices 1| and I2 are elevated and lowered by suitable pattern mechanism associated with the Wildman type of machine. The cams and other controls for the cylinder needles are actuated ofi of a member 13, shown in Figure 2 of the drawings which is elevated and lowered, in accordance with the usual Wildman machine, by suitable pattern mechanism. Such pattern mechanism is generally set forth in U. S. Patent 805,612, and need not be further detailed in this application.

The yarn feed fingers at feed E are controlled by the device 1|. It is supported for vertical movement on shafts 215 and 215 A vertically movable U-shaped frame 216 is attached to a pattern controlled slide stem 2'". The yarn feed finger control member II has points 280 and 28| which engage the star wheel 62 at the feed E in order to throw the yarn feed fingers 45 and 46 in and out of action. Pin 282 operates the binder and cutter.

It is thought best to describe the other details of the machine in connection with the cycle of knitting one of the improved stocking tops C, as follows:

The stocking top C is knitted on the machine starting at the welt of the stocking. The welt is preferably of the French type.

The inside web of the welt is knitted on the dial needles 34, using the inelastic yarn 54 which is fed off of the feed finger 52. The outside web of the French welt is knitted on the cylinder needles 23, using the inelastic yarn 46 which is fed from the finger 45 at the other feed of the machine.

Of course this welt is only one or two courses, as shown at the top portion of Figure 15 of the drawings.

At the upper elastic section the elastic yarn 53 is laid in between the dial and cylinder stitches; forwardly of the dial stitches and at the inside of the cylinder stitches. This elastic yarn 53 is moved into position by its feed finger 5! either during the knitting of the French welt or immediately thereafter. In Figure 15 the elastic yarn 53 is shown knitted in at 8|) to one or more stitches of the inelastic yarns; preferably with the yarn 5 which is fed to the dial needles during the knitting of the French welt. The feed finger 5| is knocked down into feed position at feed F by means of the star wheel 6! hitting a ring rotates, and this knocks the feed finger 5| up to an inoperative position. However, before this takes place a plunger-like device H, shown in Figures 2, 5, 6 and '7 of the drawings, operates to pull down the elastic yarn to the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings so that it can be laid in between the dial and cylinder needle stitches; as shown in the upper portion of Figure 15 of the drawings, forwardly of the stitches in the dial needle wale lines and rearwardly of the stitches in the cylinder needle wale lines. This elastic yarn is thus laid in for any desired number of courses to form the upper elastic section shown in Figure 15 of the drawings, and at the end of the section it is again knitted into the stitches of the fabric, for anchoring purposes, inasmuch as the elastic yarn 53 is placed into the fabric under slight tension. This upper elastic section thus only has lateral stretch.

At this time the operation of the device H controlling the yarn 53 will be described Referring to Figures 2, 5 to 7 and 8 to 11 of the drawings wherein is more particularly illustrated the pattern control arrangement for regulating and controlling the various yarns, the device 12 shown best in Figures 8 to 11 of the drawings, includes a supporting post or frame 86 which is mounted at 87 on the stationary frame structure 20 of the machine. The device 12 further includes a yarn controlling arm 88 mounted on a movable base 89. The latter is provided with the depending pins 99 and 9| reciprocably supp rted for vertical movement in suitable sockets in the upper portion of the standard or post 86, as shown in Figure 10. The post 86 is slotted at 92 and through it extends a pin93 which is rigid with the pin 9|. This pin 93 is adapted to be operated through suitable leverage mechanism so that the arm 88 and its base 89 may rise and fall for control actuation in a manner to be subsequently described. The pins ill and 82, above described, are rigidly carried and extended upwardly from the base 89 and adapted to actuate the star wheel 61 in the manner above described. The arm 88 is adapted to actuate the plunger mechanism H, first for swinging it upward into position where it may grab the elastic yarn 53, and then to release it so that the plunger mechanism will hold the elastic yarn in normal feed position to the fabric being knitted.

The plunger controlling device H, as more particularly detailed in Figures 5, 6 and '7 of the drawings, includes a horizontally positioned plunger shaft I00 supported on a suitable standard ml which is attached to the cylinder cam ring 24, and rotates therewith. This shaft I00 is provided with a suitable collar I02, intermediate its ends and a spring I03, under compression, and positioned between this collar I02 and a portion of the standard IOI, normally urging the shaft I00 radially outward fromthe cylinder; the limit of movement being determined by a stop arm I04, which is part of the standard ml. The forward end of the shaft 100 is provided with a yarn engaging finger or guide IIO pivoted at II I thereto for vertical swinging. At its outer end it is provided with a hook II2, similar to a needle hook, which engages the elastic yarn and pulls it from a normally inoperative position, into the position shown in Figure 6 where it may feed into the fabric, in a laid in relation between the cylinder needle and dial needle wale stitches. A spring I I4 normally pulls the yarn guide and restraining member III upwardly into the position shown in Figure '7 of the drawings, and it will assume this position when the plunger shaft I00 is pushed in to compress the spring I03, as occurs when the cam shaped segmental end IIG of the shaft I00 engages the pattern control arm 88. In its normal position, and not engaged with the arm 88 the shaft I00 is in the position shown in Figure 6, and in moving from the position shown in Figure '7 to the position shown in Figure 6 the arcuated cam shaped surface I20 at the inner end of the yarn guide finger or member IIO engages a portion I2I of the standard IOI and moves the guide finger IIO downwardly, against normal action of its spring I I4, and responsive to the greater force of the spring I03, and in this position the finger I I 0 will normally feed the yarn 53 into the fabric, as above described.

As above mentioned the conventional Wildman machine is provided with pattern control mechanfsm beneath the bed of the machine, somewhat of the nature shown in Figure 1 of U. S. Patent 805,612, which operates vertically slidable stems. One of such stems is shown at I30 in Figure 9 of the drawings; the same being mounted in the frame 20 of the machine and at its upper end having a suitable laterally extending pin I3I adapted to engage a lever arm I32 provided on one end of a rocker shaft I33; the latter being best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. rockershaft I33 at its other end has a lever arm I35 adapted to operate against the pin 93 above described, for raising and lowering the device I2 for controlling the various yarns, in the manner above described.

It will readily be apparent from the foregoing that when the pattern control mechanism lifts the arm 88 and base 89 of the device I2 to the position shown in Figure 10 it will position the pins BI and 82 in the path of the star wheel 6! for performing the operation above described, and at the same time it will position the arm 88 so that the cam segment H6 on the end of the arm I00 of the device H will engage saidarm and the plunger device will be thrown into position shown in the Figure '7 of the drawings. Just before the star wheel 6! hits the pin 82 for throwing the yarn 53 out of position to the dial needles the segment II6 will ride off the shoulder edge I40 of the arm 88 and the hook end II2 of the yarn finger IIO will then grab the yarn due to action of the spring I 03 as above described, and thus lower the yarn into the position shown in Figure 6 for feed into the fabric being knitted, so that said yarn 53 will be laid in to form the upper elastic section of the fabric, designated at I45 in the This I drawings. The elastic yarn 53 is wrapped around the cylinder in the notch at the upper end thereof provided therefor and it is cast off during the knitting at feed E.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings wherein is shown the cam set-up for the cylinder needles, the two feeds E and F correspond to the same feeds shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. At the feed E the cylinder cam ring is provided with a cam I10 which elevates the cylinder needles to a point where it may receive yarns 48, 49 and 50, and a stitch cam III is provided at that point. Just rearwardly in the line of action of these cams a movable cam I12 is provided which moves to an up position, together with the movable stitch cam I'II, at a location between the knitting of adjacent tops of the stockings, so that the yarn is fed below the latches for one or more courses to make a loose severing zone or section. Of course, these cams Ill and H2 and other movable cams on the cylinder cam ring are actuated by means of the pattern control disc or roller I3; the latter being elevated and lowered in the usual manner and engaging suitable rocker arms pivoted in the cylinder cam ring, as is conventional to the Wildman type of machine and shown in the above identified patent.

At the feed F of the machine, in addition to other leveling cams, there are provided a pair of lower and upper cams I and I8I respectively, which operate in unison. They normally elevate the needles to take the yarns 53 and 54 at the feed F, but they are also moved downwardly during the knitting of one course to miss the yarns at the time that the 'dial needles are knitting the yarn 58 during the knitting of the French welt. At this feed F there is also provided a movable stitch cast-off cam I82. For purposes of this invention the rest of the cams shown in Figure 3 need not be described, since their use is well understood.

- In the dial cam carrier or cap, at the location corresponding to feed E there is provided a mov able cam I90, pivoted at IQL which is provided with a dial needle butt passageway I92 to determine the retracted or projected position of the dial needles. This cam I at feed E, is controlled by means of a pivoted arm I93, shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, which through a link I84 is attached to a pin I on the cam I90 for throwing it on its pivot l92 to an in or out position.v The needle retracting position is shown in full lines in Figure 4 of the drawings and the needle projecting position is shown in dotted lines inthat position. The arm I93 is of course actuated by the pattern regulated disc I3 above described, which may be positioned at desired levels. The cam I 90 is thrown to the dotted position for projecting the dial needles to take the yarn at E feed. This cam I90 is thrown out of action during knitting of the French welt I at the time 'that the cylinder needles take yarn for knitting the outer web of the French welt.

At feed E a stitch cam I9! is provided, as shown in Figure 4, for casting off the stitch after the needleshave been projected to take new yarn. The dial needle butt groove I99 is shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. At feed F a needle projecting cam 200 projects the dial needles for receiving yarns, and a movable stitch cam 25H retracts the needles and casts off the stitches at point 202. It should be noted that both stitch cams I91 and 20I are pivoted at locations designated at 204 and 205 respectively in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In the dial needle butt groove of the dial cap there is provided a cam 20? which throws the dial needles out for a slight distance so that the elastic yarn 53 will not jump up on top of the dial needles during the floating of the elastic yarn in the elastic section I45 of the stocking. This position is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

Referring again to that point in the knitting of the fabric after elastic yarn 53 has started to float into the knitted upper elastic section I45, it should be remembered that the hook H0 is holding the yarn 53 in position shown in Figurefi, and that this elastic yarn is wrapped around the shoulder at the top of the cylinder. The cylinder needles at feed E cast off the yarn 46, but the dial needles at this feed location E, and at this point in the knitting, are not retracted to cast off the yarn 46. The dial needles are then in only part way, and the stitches of the dial needles are subsequently cast off at feed E by the dial needle stitch cam 20I at that point. This leaves a rather peculiar stitch which is shown in the section I45 in Figure 15 of the drawings. It should also be noted that during the knitting of this section I45 the inelastic yarn 54 is also fed to the dial and cylinder needles, to produce double feed knitting in the section I 45. This yarn 54 is cast off at feed F, both off of the dial and cylinder needles. By holding the yarn 46 on the dial needles after the cylinder needles have cast 01f that yarn at feed E and subsequently casting said yarn 46 off of the dial needles at the feed F, a looser stitch is provided in the upper elastic section I45, as will be noted from Figure 15. This permits the elastic section I45 to be laterally stretched. It is ;always desirable during the knitting of this elastic section I45 to lower the cylinder stitch drawing cams slightly more than regular, so as to stretch the stitches for looser knitting. This does not have to be done with the dial needle stitch drawing cams.

After the elastic band section I45 has been knitted it is desirable to go into regular rib knitting, using the inelastic yarns at both feeds E and F. Thus, the dial and cylinder needles at these feeds take the yarns 46 and 54 respectively, and they are cast off at their respective feeds to produce regular rib knitting in the section designated at 2I5 in Figure 15 of the drawings.

Below the rib knitted portion 2I5 of the stocking top C a second elastic section 2I6 is provided, which may be slightly less in length than the upper section I45, but which has not only a lateral stretch but a longitudinal stretch. This section is formed in a rather novel manner of two webs or plies, the outer web comprises the elastic ply. It is formed of an elastic yarn 50 and a fine inelastic yarn 49, both of which are fed from the same feed finger 46 The inner web of this section 2I6 is formed of the inelastic yarn 54. The formation of this section-216 is accomplished as follows:

After knitting of the rib section 2I5 the body inelastic yarn 46 is inoperatively positioned. Yarns 54 and 46 are heavier than the inelastic yarn 49; the relation being that yarns 46 and 54 are conventionally known as No. 36 yarns, and the finer inelastic yarn 49 is known as No. yarn." The inelastic yarn 49 and the elastic yarn 50 at feed E are now fed to only the cylinder needles, and at this feed E the dial needles are retracted. In the same courses of knitting the inelastic body yarn 54 is fed at the feed F to only the dial needles, and at this feed F the cylinder needles are retracted. This produces sepder tension and of two yarns is rather taut, and

the inner ply of this elastic section 2I8 is loose, due to the fact that the siches are looser. In Figure 14 the inner ply of this section is designated at 2I6 and the outer ply at 2I6 On the top C below the two-way stretch elastic section 2 I6 there is knitted a loose rib section 250. The knitting of this gives a better appearance to the stocking after the top is attached thereto and enables a more comfortable adaptation of the stocking to the leg of the wearer, as will be noted from Figure 16 of the drawings. This loose rib section 250 is knitted with a double feed on the machine; both inelastic yarns 54 and 46 being used at the feeds E and F respectively. The inelastic yarn 46 has its stitches loosened by pulling down the stitch cam Ill and leaving the dial stitch cam I9! out of action, so that the stitches on the dial needles are not cast off until they reach the stitch cam 20I at feed F. The dial needle stitch cam 2M at feed F is not pushed in to give the stitch any extra length, nor is the cylinder needle stitch cam I82 at feed F lowered to give the stitch any extra length. Thus the stitch is only loosened at feed E for the yarn 46. This peculiarity in stitch construction will be noted at the section 250 in Figure 15 of the drawings. We then go into regular rib knitting and knit a short section 255, shown in Figure 15 of the drawings. The loose section shown in Figure 15 of the drawings is then knitted upon the dial needles, as above referred to.

The stocking tops C are transferred to a knitting machine, such as well known Banner machine or Scott and Williams machine, in the usual manner, well known to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates.

It is of course to be understood that modifications in the placement of elastic band sections in the top C may be made. It is the primary purpose of the invention to provide an elastic top which effectively holds the stocking in shape upon the WeareL-Qeg, with a minimum of discomfort. It has been found, with many elastic tops now used in stockings sold on the market, that the elastic yarn is so placed on the top as to cause the stocking to slip down upon the leg of the wearer; thus defeating the primary purpose for which the elastic yarn is provided. While walking about the upper garter section will not slip down on the wearers leg, due to the fact that the lower garter section flexes longitudinally sufficient to prevent the top of the stocking from working down upon the leg of the wearer. Also in some of the stockings now found on the market the elastic yarn is not placed in the stocking with due consideration to comfort. As will be noted with my improved elastic top it is placed on the stocking so that the upper elastic band section fits on the leg of the wearer above the calf, that is, above the thickened part of the leg of the wearer so that the stocking cannot slip down on the leg of the wearer, and the lower elastic section fits the leg of the wearer below where the calf is of greatest circumference and serves to laterally and longitudinally hold the stocking to the shape of the leg of the wearer.

The garter section provided with the inelastic against welts forming on the wearers leg due to contraction of the elastic yarns. 4

' So far as modifications are concerned it is desirable to have the two elastic sections spaced appreciable distances apart, but they do not necessarily have to adapt themselves to the calf of the wearers leg in the relation above mentioned. Ibis also possible to depart from the above detailed invention by providing a series of lower elastic sections. I have also produced an elastic stocking with the two-way stretch elastic section on the upper portion of the top of the stocking immediately below the upper elastic section which is directly at the top of the stocking top. I have also produced a stocking with an elastic section throughout the entire length of thev top; the major portion of which is merely lateral stretch and a short band of which is of two-way stretch nature, similar to that above described for the preferred embodiment of the improved top.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the machine herein described. and to the steps of knitting the elastic top stocking thereon, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

Iclaim:

1. A method of incorporating an elastic garter section in a. seamless rib knitted stocking top which consists in feeding inelastic yarn to two sets of needles for the formation of a rib top and in continuance of the knitting of the top feeding an inelastic yarn to one set of needles to form an inelastic web, feeding an elastic yarn to the needles of the other set to form an elastic garter web, and then joining the webs and continuingthe knitting of the stocking.

2. The steps in the method of knitting a ribbed stocking top which consists in feeding inelastic yarn to two sets of needles to produce ribbed courses, incorporating an elastic yarn in the rib courses between the rib and plain stitches of the two sets of needles for a predetermined distance to form a garter section. continuing the rib knitting of the inelastic yarn on sald two sets of needles without the elastic yarn, then feeding inelastic yarn to ,one of said sets of needles to provide an inelastic web and during the production thereof feeding an elastic yarn to the other set of needles to produce an elastic garter section web, and then joining said webs and continuing the knitting. of the stocking top on said two sets of needles with inelastic yarn.

3. In a device for controlling the feed of elastic yarns and the like to a set of needles, the combination of a set of needles, means for feeding an elastic yarn thereto, means for feeding an inelastic yarn to the set of needles and for knitting the same thereon, and means for manipulating the elastic yarn to either knit the same or lay the same-in between the stitches of the fabric being knitted, said means comprising a plunger and pattern means for manipulating the same to grasp said elastic yarn and guide it to position with respect to said needles and the stitches of the fabric bein knitted.

4. In a knitting machine the combination of two sets of needles, means for feeding inelastic yarn to the needles to knit rib work, means for feeding an elastic yarn to said needles to interknit the same with the inelastic yarn, means for moving said elastic yarn to a position-where it will float between the stitches of the fabric being knitted without being knitted therein, said means comprising a plunger, a hooked member at the end of the plunger, and means for manipulating the plunger so that the hooked end thereof willgrab the elastic yarn and guide it from a position with respect to said needles where it is being knitted in the fabric with the inelastic yarn to a position with respect to said needles where it will be laid in between the stitches formed by the inelastic yarn without being knitted therein.

5. A method of knitting. a stocking having rib stocking top which in itself is sufiiciently long to fit completely over and above and below the bulge of the calf of a wearers leg, which consists in feeding an inelastic yarn to at least two sets of needles of a knitting machine to produce rib knitting, knitting an elastic yarn in the lower portion of the rib knitted top below the normal calf bulge line of the top so as to produce an elastic garter sectionwhich has a stretch both longitudinally and circumferentially of the top, and also incorporating an elastic yarn in the upper section of the top above the normal calf bulge line of the top and which has at least a circumferential stretch, the knitting of the rib top between said elastic garter sections being merely of inelastic yarn, and then completing the stocking.

6. In a machine for the production of elastic rib knitted stocking tops and the like, the combination of two sets of needles, means for feeding both elastic and inelastic yarns to said sets of needles, means for knitting tubular rib work on -the sets of needles with the inelastic yarn, means for knitting said elastic yarn in with the inelastic yarn for a few wales at .each end of an elastic band section which is to be produced in the rib knitted fabric, and a. device to engage and manipulate the elastic yarn at the intermediate portion of the elastic band section to merely lay in said elastic yarn between the plain and rib knitted wales of the inelastic 

